Do you have a first aid kit in your home, car, and workplace? If the answer is no, it’s time to fix that.
Keeping a well-stocked first aid kit around is one of the easiest ways to be prepared for an emergency. If you have a family and/or young children, it is especially important that you keep a first aid kit in your home.
Keep reading, and we’ll provide you with the ultimate first aid kit supplies list. Follow these tips to keep you and your family safe.
Where Should You Keep a First Aid Kit?
You should always have multiple first aid kids for the best emergency preparedness. No matter where you are, you should have emergency supplies available.
Keep a first aid kit in a safe place in your home. Make sure everyone who is old enough to use the kit knows where it is.
You should also keep a first aid kit in the glove compartment of your car. Having first aid supplies on hand can seriously help you in the event of a car accident.
You should always have access to a first aid kit in your workplace. If your workplace does not have a first aid kit, you should suggest to your boss that they get one for the office.
When Should You Use a First Aid Kit?
First aid kits should be used for short-term, emergency first aid only. If someone is badly hurt, you should use your first aid kid to help them until professionals arrive.
You should use your first aid kit for both minor and major cuts, scratches, burns, and rashes. Your first aid kit may not contain everything you need to treat these wounds, but it is a great first line of defense.
For example, if you accidentally cut yourself while preparing food, you should stop the bleeding with a bandage from your first aid kit. It is always best to address wounds as soon as you can.
A standard first aid kit supplies list includes products and bandages that you can use for triage. If the contents of your first aid kit are not enough to treat a wound, you should seek medical attention.
Building Your First Aid Kit List
Before you assemble your kit, you should make a list of medical supplies for a first aid kit. You can use this Class B first aid kit as a model.
The ultimate first aid kit should include:
- Adhesive bandages
- Adhesive tape
- Antiseptic wipes
- Ointment for scrapes and burns
- Burn dressings
- A CPR mask
- Cold packs
- Eye pads
- Eyewash
- A guide to first aid kit basics
- Hand sanitizer
- Medical gloves
- Gauze bandages
- Scissors
- A padded splint
- Gauze pads
- A tourniquet
- Sterile trauma pads
- Triangle bandages
This may seem like a lot for a home first aid kit, but you can never be too safe. The more heavily stocked your first aid kit is, the better.
Customizing Your First Aid Kit
We’ve listed all the basic emergency supplies that should be in the ultimate first aid kit. However, you may want to add some more items depending on the health needs of you or your family.
If someone in your house is diabetic, you should keep juice boxes, candy, or another sugary snack in your kit. You should also keep an insulin injection on hand.
If someone in your house has an allergy, you should keep antihistamine medication and an EpiPen in your kit.
You can also keep any other medications in your kit that you take on an as-needed basis; such as migraine medication, painkillers, or anti-seizure medications.
Maintaining Your First Aid Kit
It is important to keep your first aid kit fully stocked so that you always have what you need in an emergency. Every time you open your first aid kit, you should check on your stock of supplies.
There is nothing more annoying than getting a cut and realizing that you ran out of bandages and never replaced them.
First aid supplies should always be part of your shopping list. You can make do if you forget butter or eggs, but you may be in trouble if you’re caught without bandages.
Storing Your First Aid Kit
Always store your first aid kit in a dry, relatively cool place. If you have ointments or salves in your kit, you do not want them to get too hot and lose their consistency.
Some items in your kit, such as tape, gauze, or bandages, can be damaged by water and steam. Don’t keep your first aid kit in a place where it is likely to get wet.
Keep your first aid kit high up or in a child-proof cabinet. Some of the items in your kit could potentially harm a child.
Learn First Aid Skills
Once your first aid kit is stocked, make sure you know how to use it. Look through your first aid skills guide and learn how to properly clean and bandage a wound.
Look for local organizations that offer classes in CPR and other emergency first aid skills. You should feel confident using every item in your kit.
Stay Prepared With This First Aid Kit Supplies List
Now that you have this helpful first aid kit supplies list, you can stock your first aid kits with all the emergency supplies you could possibly need. Stay prepared and protected no matter where you are.
You never know when an emergency will strike. For more health and safety tips, check out the rest of our blog!
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